Adjustable crowfoot wrench



c. F. COATES 2,600,617

ADJUSTABLE CROWFOOT WRENCH June 17, 1952 Filed Dec. 1, 1948 77. S lllligg I 2 Patented June 17, 1952 ADJUSTABLE CROWFOOT WRENCH Charles F. 'Coates, Glendale, -Calif., assignor t J. H. Williams & 00., Buffalo, N. Y.

Application December 1, 1948, Serial No. 62,918

This invention relates to improvements in adjustable wrenches.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a wrench of this type in which the part for turning the wrench extends substantially perpendicular to a face of the wrench head.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wrench of this type which may be removably connected with a bar or other part for-turning the wrench. Another object is to provide a wrench of this type with a socket formed to receive a bar or other part for turning the wrench, and in which the aperture in the socket extends through the wrench head and also serves the purpose of receiving the usual worm for adjusting the movable jaw. Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description of one embodiment of this invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of one face of a wrench embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the opposite face thereof.

Fig. 3 is a, transverse sectional view thereof, on line 3--3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof, on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated by way of example, the wrench includes a head 1 provided with a fixed jaw 8 formed integral therewith. The wrench includes a slidable jaw 9 which is guided for movement on the head of the wrench, and which has a longitudinal shank l0 formed integral therewith and provided with rack teeth II. This shank is guided for movement in a passage formed in the head 1. The head of the wrench is also provided with the usual aperture or window [2 extending transversely of the same in which a worm I4 is arranged for engagement with the rack teeth II, the worm being pivotally mounted on a pin l suitably secured in the head of the wrench and extending transversely of the aperture 12. As thus far described, the wrench head and the parts mounted thereon are similar to those used on adjustable wrenches, but it will be noted that the usual handle of the wrench, which is usually formed integral with the head, is omitted.

It is frequently desirable to use wrenches of this type where the nut, bolt or other work to be turned is located in a position in which a wrench with the usual handle cannot be used. For this purpose, I provide the head of the wrench on 1 Claim. (01. 81-165) V 2 7 one face thereof with a part or lug adapted to be engaged by a bar or other device for applying torque or turning motion to the wrench head, such part being preferably formed integral with the head 7. This lug or part may be suitably formed for attachment of the bar or part thereto. For example, in the particular construction illustrated, this'lug or part I! is made hollow, being provided with an aperture 20 which is preferably of non-circular cross section, the aperture shown being square in cross section and formed to receive a square end of a crank bar 2| or other device for turning the wrench.

In order a to facilitate the production of wrenches of this type, the aperture 20 in the lug H is formed to coincide with or constitute an extension of the aperture l2 in which the worm I4 is located, and in the construction illustrated, these two apertures are formed to coincide in such a manner that the two apertures in fact constitute a single aperture extending through the lug I1 and the head I of the wrench. Consequently, very little additional time is required to form the two apertures, one in alinement with the other, than would be required to form the aperture I2 alone. By forming a single aperture in this manner which extends through the lug and the head so as to be open at both ends, it is possible to readily broach the aperture through the lug and head. The aperture is of such size as to properly accommodate in one end thereof, the worm l4 and is so positioned that two opposite sides of the aperture extend substantially parallel to the shank of the movable jaw on which the rack teeth are formed. The other portion of the aperture which is within the lug I! receives the crank bar or torque device for turning the wrench which is provided with an end or stud 22 formed to fit into the aperture in the lug. The end of the torque device or bar is also provided with a shouldered portion 24 of sufficient size so that it cannot enter the aperture 20, thus limiting the extent to which the stud or end 22 may be inserted into this aperture so that it will not contact with or damage the worm M.

The part 22 of the torque bar, which enters into the aperture in the lug l1, may be provided with a transversely extending spring pressed plunger or ball 25 extending slightly beyond a face of the stud, and the lug or part I! is provided on the inner surface thereof with notches or recesses 26 into any one of which such plunger or ball may enter to releasably hold the stud in the lug or part I! of the wrench head. The torque bar may be provided with any usual or suitable means such as a crank or handle (not shown) for turning the torque bar to actuate the wrench.

In order to facilitate the turning of the worm, the end of the aperture [2 which terminates at a fiat face of the wrench head is flared outwardly at those opposite faces thereof which extend parallel to the axis of the worm as shown at 21 and 28, this .beingpreferably done during the forging of the wrench head. Consequently, when the user of the wrench turns the worm his thumb or finger contacts with a greater peripheral knurled portion of the threads of the worm than would be possible if the aperture I2 terminated abruptly at the face of the wrench headyandthis greater 1.-

contact with the threads of the worm facilitates the turning of the same and also enables the operator to apply more force thereto.

By means of the construction shown an adjust able wrench of the crow-foot" type is provided by means of which work parts which are.inacces- .sible to a wrench with the'usual handle-may be turned. The wrench described has the-advantage that it may be readily manufactured by providing a singleaperture for the two-fold purpose of receiving the torque or crank bar and .thewormof the wrench and which aperture extends completely through the lug and the wrench headso-that the aperturecan be broached, thereby greatly facilitating the accurate-formation of the same. By making the hole 20 for the crank bar in the lug or projection 2H coaxial with the opening for the adjusting worm, the lug [-1 does not add to the arcuate sweep of the tool about the axis of a bolt or nut to be driven. Conse- (L quentl-y, this compactness of the wrench renders it readily usable in cases where very-little room isavailable for swinging the wrench.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention, as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

In a wrench having "a head provided with a fixed jaw formed integral therewith, a slidable jaw having a shank guided in said head for adiusting said slidable jaw relatively to said fixed jaw and having worm teeth formed thereon, said head 'having an opening extending transversely through the same, and a worm in said opening andengaging said worm teeth for ad- .justing said slidable jaw. that improvement which includes a lug extending outwardly from one sideof said head and having a non-circular aperture therein to receive an end of a torque bar for turning said'wrench, said aperture intsaid lug being coaxial with and forming an extension of said opening in said head.

CHARLES F. COA'IZES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent: 

